1. Law of Relationships - (5). Changes in Relationships
(5). Change of Relationships
Nature provides every individual with relationships and environments that are precisely suited for them. How effectively one utilizes and handles these relationships depends entirely on their own abilities. Thus, continuous learning is necessary to develop this skill, as it is directly connected to the growth of one's soul.
Initially, nature provides you with 100% of the relationships and environments you need. If you study well and handle these relationships correctly, growing together in a joyful way, nature will add another 10% of better relationships and environments. This increases your environment to 110%. If you continue to study and handle it properly, another 10% is added, bringing it to 120%. In this way, your life progresses upwards. However, if you start blaming others, complaining, or boasting within the 100% environment you were given, nature will begin to take away 10%. The connections you once had will gradually distance themselves. If you continue to complain without self-reflection, another 10% will be taken away. It will continue to get harder until you realize your mistakes and change. This can lead to severe hardships, such as developing a serious illness that requires hospitalization. If, even at that point, you stubbornly refuse to listen, nature may ultimately take away the opportunity to live on this Earth in a physical body.
No matter how well you treat others or how gravely you err, nature only gives or takes away in increments of 10%, never all at once by 30% or 70%. Nature always gives you multiple chances. Even in the case of car accidents, they don’t happen abruptly. You may start noticing car accidents frequently, hearing stories from acquaintances, or seeing such scenes in the media. You might have two or three close calls before an actual accident happens. Conversely, when good things are about to happen, you will hear stories of others receiving congratulations and witnessing positive events more frequently. These are signs that good things are coming your way because you are studying correctly and growing well.
Thus, whether you are growing by studying properly or stagnating while insisting you are right, your relationships will either transform positively or become clouded. It all depends on how you handle them.
Would you like to learn more about how to properly handle your given relationships and environments to receive even greater rewards from nature? First, recognize that everything you need is already present in your current environment and relationships. If you handle them correctly, everything you need is already within your reach. That is why nature sent those relationships to you. It’s beneficial to find ways to enjoy being with the people and environments already around you. Even if you create good energy with just one person, that energy will attract more positive energy. This sense of enjoyment naturally arises when each person understands their duty and fulfills it diligently, allowing for growth. Don’t force yourself to have fun; simply engaging in honest conversations will eventually make everything more enjoyable. Just live by fulfilling your roles and enjoying yourself, and everything will naturally align in the best possible way. When good things come your way, embrace them with gratitude and continue to enjoy life, thereby expanding your energy.
In the material world, when material energies gather, they create a strong gravitational force. Similarly, when humans treat each other properly and live harmoniously, non-material energies accumulate, creating "inner strength" or spiritual energy. As this inner strength grows, it draws even more relationships toward you. The stronger this positive energy becomes, the more people will be drawn to it, allowing everyone to benefit together.
Simply handle your given environment properly according to the three types of relationships, and enjoy it. Don’t be greedy and seek out better relationships if you haven’t mastered this. If you can just make yourself smile and live well, you are already contributing positively to society. The moment you frown and complain, you are making life harder for society, and you will bear the consequences. Do not blame or resent anyone; instead, focus on improving yourself through study. The environment you experience is a reflection of how well you have managed it. If you don’t understand something, make an effort to listen more deeply to others and use that to further your studies. The more you can understand and embrace various people’s words and actions, the more you learn from your given environment.
Even if you graduated from Harvard, if you only read and wrote extensively but cannot understand others, then you have learned nothing. A truly learned person is someone who can absorb and embrace their surroundings. Earning a doctorate does not necessarily mean you are well-educated. It simply means you have specialized knowledge in one field; it doesn’t mean you can embrace society as a whole. You may excel in your field of study, but if you do not know how to treat those who come to work with you, you cannot manage them effectively. A well-rounded person is one who can understand deeply both themselves and others. If you cannot understand why others behave the way they do, it means you lack maturity. A person who studies deeply to understand everything is called a "Hongik Human." This person is truly capable of living for others and will become a leader in the future. At Hongik Taekwondo, our goal is to cultivate such leaders, from young children to adults and seniors.
Returning to the main point: if someone continuously causes you stress, it means you do not yet fully understand yourself or that person. You are judging them based on your standards without understanding their circumstances. It is impossible to truly understand them this way. Additionally, if you do not fully understand why you are triggered or stressed, you will simply blame the other person. Nature sees this as a lack of growth and maturity on your part, which leads to difficulties in your relationships and stunts your personal development. As your environment becomes more challenging, you start blaming others even more, which makes things even harder. This cycle will continue until you realize your own shortcomings, reflect on them, and begin to study. It may take 10, 30 years, or more, but once you recognize your mistakes and decide to learn, nature will embrace you and guide you toward a better environment. This is because continuous growth is necessary for all of us. We will delve into why growth is essential later.
So, don’t be greedy. Focus on cultivating yourself and building your inner strength. Do not try to draw people in with selfish motives. Instead, simply enjoy being with those who naturally come to you. At first, it may be just one or two people, but as your energy expands, many more will be drawn to you. This process will repeat, and your energy will continue to expand. It all starts with you. So, begin by living joyfully and energetically. If you find it hard to be happy on your own, take the time to study yourself and figure out why. That’s the purpose of the meditation program. Once you start enjoying life, others will see it and join in. It all begins with you. When you are happy, everything around you will naturally follow suit, not through force, but effortlessly. Therefore, focus on studying and cultivating yourself.
Summary
Nature provides everyone with the appropriate relationships and environments, and how you utilize them depends on your efforts. If you study correctly and treat your relationships well, you will be given better environments. On the other hand, if you complain or blame others, your environment will gradually become more difficult. It is essential to deeply understand yourself and positively embrace the relationships and environments you have been given in order to grow. As you accumulate inner maturity, more good relationships and opportunities will naturally follow. Ultimately, if you live joyfully and happily, starting with yourself, your surroundings will gradually transform positively.